Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Audience tape and partial (first set) soundboard. Concert is a benefit for the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and features passionate versions of many songs including "The River", "Who'll Stop The Rain", "Prove It All Night" and "Darkness On The Edge Of Town". Also includes a stunning "Ballad Of Easy Rider", the only known performance. Springsteen stops singing during "The River", either due to overwhelming emotion or to shake hands with the veterans seated around the stage - opinion is divided. An outstanding “Detroit Medley” includes snippets of “I Hear A Train”, "Land Of 1000 Dances", “Sweet Soul Music” and “Shake”. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" also includes a brief "Sweet Soul Music" during the band introductions. Widely considered one of Springsteen's finest shows. Released on CD "A Night For The Vietnam Veteran" (Winged Wheel), and "Written On The Wall" from a remastered tape. Now available as a direct master recording remaster by Ev2 which has the complete "This Land Is Your Land" and "Twist And Shout" from the very good sounding audience tape. None of the previous recordings/sources had these two songs as complete from the better sounding audience tape. This is the same source as "Written On The Wall" but from a direct master recording which results in a slightly better sound quality - "As Dreams Don't Mean Nothin' - A Night For The Vietnam Veterans" (Ev2).

“The Boots” Info

Possibly the most emotional show of Bruce's career, this benefit show starts with an introduction by Bobby Mueller, a disabled Vietnam veteran, and several band members reportedly had tears in their eyes when they started 'Who'll Stop the Rain?,' Credence Clearwater Revival's song about the Vietnam conflict. Bruce himself was overcome with emotional during 'The River' and stopped singing at one point. This show features the one and only performance of 'Ballad of Easy Rider.

As Dreams Don't Mean Nothing - A Night For The Vietnam Veterans

EV2

20.08.1981 - Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA

28.08.1981 - Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA *

23.08.1981 - Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA *

21.08.1981 - Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA *

24.08.1981 - Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA *

* Bonus Tracks

Disc 1

01. Arena Announcement 02. Bruce Springsteen Intro 03. Bobby Muller Intro 04. Who'll Stop The Rain 5 05. Prove It All Night 06. The Ties That Bind 07. Darkness On The Edge Of Town 08. Intro / "Hold On To Yourself" 09. Johnny Bye Bye 10. Independence Day 11. Intro / "You End Up Trapped" 12. Trapped 13. Two Hearts 14. Out In The Street 15. The Promised Land 16. The River 17. Intro / "Dream That Won't Die" 18. This Land Is Your Land 19. Badlands

Since this 'remaster' is from MarkP's master recording, this doesn't have the cuts every other release has.

'This Land Is Your Land' which was missing from other versions, is complete on this one. 'Twist & Shout' was missing half the song - it's complete on this one. Only cut on this is in the beginning of "Who'll Stop The Rain?", which was on all the other version too. (Tried to fix it)

To sum it up, this is much better than all the old 'releases' of this legendary show.

'Editors' view: Probably the best show ever, definitely best Who'll Stop The Rain? he's ever played.

Thanks to Gchord for the artwork source, and let's not forget the man who we all owe a lot - Mark P. We can't thank you enough.